Decatur, IL – October 31, 2013…They call him “Banzai” for the way he always attacks the race track and on Halloween night, Carl Becker did just that to take his ninth career feature win in the Black Kat Klassic 50 for the Supermodified Ultimate Pavement Racing Series.
The Lansing, MI resident started from the pole position and led the entire race, being challenged only slightly by the previous nights winner and defending series champion Ray Sand, Jr. and second place finisher Rob Warren of Pulaski, NY. Steve Callahan drove his CPR Motorsports rocket home to a fine third place finish.
“I could hear someone back there and started to worry a little about losing the lead after I got off to a great start,” said Becker about his challenges during the race. “I got a little excited at one point and I nearly hit the light pole down there in turn one, but I just gathered it up and kept going.”
Carl Becker crosses the Dasera Speedway finish line unchallenged to win the SUPRS Black Kat Classic 10.31.13.
Becker is the elder statesman of the SUPRS league and while having been a long time member, hasn’t always had the record of finishing as high as what his level of enthusiasm would normally dictate. There was no denying the driver of the Wholesale Diamond Exchange, Michigan Hill Gang Dowker Titanium Roadster was on top of his game at Decatur Speedway. He said, “I’m twice as old as most of these guys and generally don’t finish as good as I start but tonight, this means a lot to have a good finish this early in the season against these guys.”
Rob Warren’s First to Finish Docks & Hoists Services, Designs of Elegance number 35 machine flew past Ray Sand, Jr. when Sand, Jr. had something go awry. Said Warren, ” Ray and I were battling like crazy out there tonight and it was a blast.” He went into detail as to what he saw happen with the champions ride saying, “We were back and forth, he passed me, I passed him, he got me back then all of the sudden the car just turned right and I saw him hit the wall and was worried he’d bounce back into me but I cleared him and went after Carl. My hat’s off to Carl on the win because I couldn’t get him even though I threw everything in the book at him and nearly drove into him when he almost hit the wall.”
Sand, Jr. had challenged Becker early for the lead, but said after the race, “Note to self, don’t let yourself get distracted by other people in the room when you are racing online because you’ll end up like I did. Congratulations to Carl he drove a helluva race and so did Rob.”
While celebrating his second top five of the early season, “Steady” Steve Callahan was just as concerned about how he got to the podium as he was with finishing there. “First off, congrats to Carl, it was cool to see him get a win, but I really can’t be proud of my run because I got into Chris, (Meyers), when we hit the bump in turn one and I just hate that it screwed up his race and I don’t ever like to get a good finish that way.”
“Everyone in this league is just so close and just the slightest mistake and your out a spot and I almost made that mistake passing my kid out there tonight. This is just a really cool track and always very fast but unforgiving,” concluded Callahan.
Bob Gangwer and Sand, Jr. rounded out the top five while Joey Callahan, Kevin Timmins and Chris Meyers filled out the field. Early in the night Becker picked up the win in the “Crack the Whip” race over Timmins and Sand, Jr.
Carl “Bonzai” Becker parks his “Michigan Hill Gang” Dowker Titanium Roadster under the United States and Canadian flags for his racing friends.
Next week the SUPRS racers embark on what most consider the toughest swing series of the season. The 10th Annual North Carolina Swing features five different tracks in three nights of racing where racers will vie for the coveted North Carolina Swing Championship Crown. The series kicks off Tuesday, November 5th at Dasera Speedway and Caraway Speedway, moves to Concord Motorsports Speedway and Coastal Plains Speedway the next night and finishes off at Hickory Motor Speedway on Thursday, November 7 where the winner of challenging “Hickory Hustle 75” will be crowned North Carolina Swing Champion.
Further details can be found on SUPRS.net or by visiting the Supermodified Ultimate Pavement Racing Series Facebook page by clicking www.facebook.com/SUPRS.
Black Kat Klassic 50 at Decatur Speedway – October 30, 2013
Time Trials (showing best lap)
- 18 Ray Sand, Jr.; Rochester, NY: 13.121
- 55 Steve Callahan; Cayuhoga Falls, OH: 13.182
- 23 Chris Meyers; Amherst, OH: 13.199
- 15 Joey Callahan; Cayuhoga Falls, OH: 13.236
- 35 Rob Warren; Pulaski, NY: 13.293
- 42 Carl Becker; Lansing, MI: 13.341
- 25 Bob Gangwer; Goshen, IN: 13.417
- 77 Kevin Timmins; Baldwinsville, NY 13.566
Crack the Whip-8 Laps
- 42-Carl Becker
- 77-Kevin Timmins
- 18-Ray Sand, Jr.
- 35-Rob Warren
- 55-Steve Callahan
- 23-Chris Meyers
- 25-Bob Gangwer
- 15-Joey Callahan
Feature-50 Laps
- 42-Carl Becker * **
- 35-Rob Warren
- 55-Steve Callahan
- 25-Bob Gangwer
- 18 Ray Sand, Jr. -2
- 15-Joey Callahan -3
- 77-Kevin Timmins DNF
- 23 Chris Meyers DNF
Time of Race: 12:31.144
- * Denotes Lap Led
- ** Denotes Most Laps Led
- ! Denotes Fastest Lap of Race
